Department ofBotany

Biological Conservation Newsletter

No. 120April 1993

Editor: Jane Villa-Lobos

GARDENER'S GUIDE TO PLANT CONSERVATION

Review by Jane MacKnight

Gardeners can have a significant impact on wild plant
species. Excessive harvesting of wild species may reduce plant
populations to unviable levels. Pressure from concerned gardeners
can encourage more ethical collection and labelling of species
from the world. In The Gardener's Guide to Plant
Conservation, Nina Marshall addresses these issues in a
useful, easy-to-understand book for gardeners who want
information about their favorite plants before purchasing.

The 187-page book was written to assist gardeners in making
choices about the most commonly available plants found in North
American temperate gardens. In the first four chapters Ms.
Marshall gives a concise overview of the plant trade including
CITES, how collection affects wild species, the gardener's role
and offers consumer tips for concerned gardeners.

The heart of The Guide lies in the four reference
chapters: native North American wildflowers, bulbs, insectivorous
plants and terrestrial orchids. Each chapter provides information
on origin of the species and whether the species is commonly wild
collected or artificially propagated. Hundreds of species are
covered, but bulbs are discussed most extensively, as the result
of an earlier WWF study on the bulb trade. A quick glance through
the species lists and it is obvious that gardeners still need to
use their discretion. Many of the species in trade are both wild
collected and artificially propagated. The Guide does not
recommend one species over another, but gives gardeners adequate
information to make wise decisions. A selection of excellent
photographs illustrates each plant category.

One of the closing chapters refers the reader to other
sources of information, for example, native plant societies. A
very comprehensive bibliography provides additional information
about the plant trade, endangered plants and plant conservation.

The book, published by World Widlife Fund and the Garden
Club of America, is available for $12.95 from WWF, P.O. Box 4866,
Hampden Post Office, Baltimore, MD 21211. Tel: (301) 516-6951.

ECOSYSTEM APPROACH TO ENDANGERED
SPECIES CONSERVATION

A special issue of the Endangered Species UPDATE ,
entitled, "Exploring an Ecosystem Approach to Endangered Species
Conservation", contains 13 articles and an introductory note by
authors from universities, conservation organizations and
government agencies that address the theory and implementation of
the ecosystem approach to protecting biodiversity. The Special
Issue tackles ecosystem approach questions within three sections:
Science and Management, Policy, and Education. Unique and timely
in its coverage of an emerging approach to conservation, the
Special Issue offers great material for policy planning and
training sessions, courses, and discussion. The 62-page issue
contains photographs, figures and tables, and "Literature Cited"
sections within each article.

Single copies of the Special Issue can be purchased for $6
(including postage). For orders of 20 or more, the price is $5.
For orders outside the U.S., please add $1 per issue for
shipping. Send check or money order (payable to The University of
Michigan) to: Endangered Species UPDATE, School of Natural
Resources & Environment, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
48109-1115. (Regular subscriptions to the UPDATE , which
include special issues, are available for $23 ($18 for students
and senior citizens). For more information, call (313) 763-3243.

SCHOLARSHIP

The Amazon Basin Scholarship Program is a collaboration
between the Latin American Scholarship Program of American
Universities (LASPAU) and Wildlife Conservation International
(WCI) to train future environmental leaders from the Amazon. The
Program has established a goal to train 50 scholars over five
years at the certificate, master's and doctoral degree levels in
the United States. Amazon Basin Scholars will return to conduct
research, to exert scientific and policy leadership, and to train
others in environmental affairs critical to the region's
survival. A pilot program, begun in 1991 and sponsored by the
Fulbright Academic Exchange Program of the United States
Information Agency, has already provided support for six
scholars. In addition, it has enabled LASPAU to establish the
Amazon Basin institutional network necessary to sustain a
scholarship program that encompasses six countries, including the
support of many key institutions in the Amazon Basin, such as
organizations of many indigenous peoples, the Instituto Nacional
de Desarrollo de Recursos Naturales of Colombia, and the
Secretariat of Science and Technology of Brazil. For more
information, please contact: LASPAU, 25 Mt. Auburn St.,
Cambridge, MA 02138; Tel: (617) 495-5255; Fax: (617) 495-8990.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

The Vermont Natural Resources Council has produced a special
curriculum to educate middle school students about how they can
help save tropical rain forests. Titled "Tropical Rain Forests:
The Vermont Connection", the 100-page guide explains why rain
forests are important and how habits and lifestyles in Vermont
can affect tropical forests. For more information, write: Vermont
Natural Resources Council, 9 Bailey Ave., Montpelier, VT 05602.

Concepts and application of phylogenetic systematics are
presented in a two-part 25 minute video. Part I describes the
development of a cladogram. In Part II, cladistics is applied to
an ethological phylogenetic anaylsis of relationships among
cyprinid minnows that breed over gravel substrates. The video,
accompanied by an Instructor's Manual, is an educational tool
that can be used as an introduction to phylogenetic systematics.
The video is available at cost (including postage/handling): US
standard video format (NTSC), $55 US; PAL/SECAM format, $90 US.
Send US check/money order or purchase order payable to University
of Richmond to: Dr. Eugene G. Maurakis, Biology Department,
University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173. Tel: (804) 289-8977.

The Dian Fossey Fund offers educational materials available
for middle and high school teachers. A 30-day interdisciplinary,
middle school curriculum, covering conservation issues and using
mountain gorillas as an example of an endangered species, comes
packaged with a 50-minute videotape and snares collected from the
Rwandan rainforest. The cost is $55 postage-paid. The other, a 7-
day interdisciplinary unit for high school students, focuses on
balancing population, economy and conservation. Students become
analysts using World Population Data sheets and atlases. They
observe mountain gorilla behavior and take field notes from a
scientist's videotape of a gorilla research group near Karisoke.
With an understanding of culture, environment, and wildlife,
students assume the roles of experts in one of four viewpoints:
veterinarian, government official, tourism, or antipoaching. They
devise a plan to benefit all positions, and later discover how
closely their plans parallel the plan in Rwanda today. The
curriculum and videotape sell for $20, including shipping.
Proceeds from both materials benefit the Dian Fossey Gorilla
Fund.

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

The North Carolina Nature Conservancy is looking for a
Southeast Coastal Plain Steward to manage the nature preserves
located in the Southeast Coastal Plain of the state. These
preserves support a wide range of ecosystems, including longleaf
pine communities, pocosins, Atlantic white cedar communities,
cypress swamps, and pine plantations. The steward will establish
and maintain cooperative management relationships with the
managers of other preserves and public lands in the district, and
manage the Southeast Coastal Plain Stewardship Office in
Wilmington, NC. Qualifications: University degree in natural
resources management, ecology, or a related science, and at least
2 years of experience with fire management; or professional
experience of equivalent value. To apply, contact: Sam Pearsall,
Director of Science and Stewardship, Carr Mill Suite D12,
Carrboro, NC 27510. Tel: (919) 967-7007; Fax: (919) 929-7710).

FUTURE MEETINGS

May 20-23. "Alternative Medicine, Wellness, & Health Care
Reform: Preparing for a Sustainable Future" will be held at the
National Museum of Health and Medicine (Walter Reed Army Medical
Center, Maryland) and the Dirksen Senate Office Building,
Washington, DC. In the midst of the national debate on health
care reform, the timely forum for health care professionals,
practitioners, policy analysts, scientists, and the general
public will explore developments in alternative medicine and
wellness practices and alternative health and self-care
practices, including health practices of indigenous populations.
A live display of medicinal plants will open at the U.S. Botanic
Garden May 20 and continue through June 19. Early registration
(by May 14): $65/day; $250/4 days (includes lunch). For more
information, contact: EEI, Attn.: Alison Malone, 66 Canal Center
Plaza, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: (703) 684-2116; Fax:
(703) 683-4915.

June 1-5. "Tropical Montane Cloud Forests" , an
international state-of-knowledge symposium and workshop, will be
held in San Juan, Puerto Rico in conjunction with the Association
of Tropical Biology 30th anniversary meeting. For more
information, contact: Dr. Lawrence Hamilton or Dr. James O.
Juvik, EAPI East-West Center, 1777 East-West Road, Honolulu,
Hawaii 96848. Fax: (808) 944-7970.

June 9-13. The 7th Annual Meeting of the Society for
Conservation Biology will be held at Arizona State University,
Tempe, Arizona. Registration: $90 before May 1; $115 afterwards.
For information, contact: W.L. Minckley, Dept. of Zoology,
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-1501.

June 14-20. The Fifth Annual Society for Ecological
Restoration Conference will be held in Irvine, California. Major
themes will include: restoration of islands, arid and semi-arid
lands, animal reintroductions, ethics and mitigation, and urban
planning. For more information, contact: Society for Ecological
Restoration, 1207 Seminole Highway, Madison, Wisconsin 53711.
Tel: (608) 262-9547.

June 21-26. "Neotropical Montane Forests: Biodiversity and
Conservation" symposium will be held at the New York Botanical
Garden, Bronx, New York. Registration deadline: April 30.
Registration fee: $120. For more information, contact: Dr. James
Luteyn, Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical
Garden, Bronx, NY 10458-5126. Tel: (718) 817-8645.

June 22-25. 20th Annual Natural Areas Conference,
"Conservation in Working Landscapes", will be held at the
Univeristy of Maine, Orono, Maine. The conference will focus on:
biological diversity in working landscapes, conservation in
marine ecosystems, inventory and monitoring natural areas, and
conserving endangered species and natural communities. For a
brochure and registration form, contact: Hank Tyler, Maine State
Planning Office, Station 38, Augusta, Maine 04333. Tel: (207)
624-6041.

June 23-27. The 1993 meeting of the Society for Economic
Botany will be held at the Fairchild Tropical Garden in Miami,
Florida. In addition to six sessions of contributed papers, a
one-day symposium, "Invading Species - Their Threat and
Potential" is planned. Registration: $60 (Members), $70 (Non-
members) by May 15; $10 more after May 15. Registration
information from: SEB Annual Meeting, Fairchild Tropical Garden,
10901 Old Cutler Road, Miami, Florida 33156-4296.

September 14-16. "Low Temperature Aspects of Seed
Conservation" will be held at the Isle of Thorns Training Centre,
Chelwood Gate, Sussex, England. The symposium will focus on the
effects of low temperature on the germination and storage of
seeds. Registration, accommodation, meals, visit to Wakehurst
Place and conference dinner will cost approximately 225 pounds
sterling. For more information, contact: Simon Linington,
Wakehurst Place, Ardingly, Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 6TN,
England.

CURRENT LITERATURE

Anon. 1993. Center and U.S. Forest Service join forces to
conserve rare plants. Plant Conservation 7(2): 7. (Plant
conservation in national forests and on grasslands)

Gup, T. 1993. The land lord. Time 141(10): 38.
(Interior Secretary Babbitt plans to revitalize National Park
Service and increase protection of endangered species)

Halloy, S. 1992. Threats to biodiversity in Latin America
and the rights to genetic resources. In R. Rabel (Ed.), Latin
America in a Changing World Order. University of Otago,
Dunedin, New Zealand. pp. 120-134.

MacNeille, S. 1993. Where the ecotours are. New York
Times (Sec. 5) February 21: 15, 26. (Ecotourism)

Maggs, G. 1992. The role of the National Herbarium of
Namibia in the conservation of plant genetic resources.
Dinteria 23: 99-101. (Proceedings of the 1st Workshop on
Plant Genetic Resources, Nov. 1991)